"It would have been nice to win this series to give us a little bit of an edge," said Yankees first baseman Mark Teixeira. "But at the same time, we've got three big series left. We have a chance to finish it off and reach our goal. We just have to work a little bit harder now."

How much harder? According to projections from coolstandings.com, the Rays hold a 66.6 percent chance of winning the division, with the Yankees down to 33.4 percent. Meanwhile, the most likely scenarios project the Twins to finish with the best record in the league, giving them home field advantage in an ALDS rematch against the wild-card Yankees.

The Rays' remaining schedule has plenty to do with the Yankees' chances.

-- Three home games against the Mariners (58-94), who own the league's worst road record at 23-52.

-- Three home games against the Orioles (61-91), though the Fightin' Showalters have played well on the road since the new skipper's first day (13-8).

-- Three games in Kansas City against the Royals (63-89), who are currently locked in a death struggle with the Indians for the AL Central cellar.

By comparison, the Yankees must face division foes with winning records.

-- Three home games against the Red Sox (84-68)

-- Three games in Toronto against the Jays (77-75)

-- Three games in Boston against the Red Sox.

Teixeira looked for a positive in what is clearly a disadvantage in the schedule.

"We have to worry about ourselves," Teixeira said. "If we're going to get to the 'Promised Land' and win another championship, we have to beat the best. So, if we're going to complain about having a tougher schedule, we don't belong in the playoffs anyway. So it's going to be a tough road and when we get to the playoffs it's going to be the same thing. Maybe it's better that we're going to get tested in these last nine games."